LEADING US Democrat Nancy Pelosi slammed "morbidly obese" Donald Trump after he revealed he is taking an unproven drug to "ward off coronavirus".

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The president revealed he is using the anti-malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine. Mrs Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, said: "He's our President and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and his weight group ... morbidly obese, they say."

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Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer added: "Maybe he's really not taking it because the President lies about things. Him saying he is taking it, whether he is or not, is reckless, reckless, reckless."

The reactions came after Mr Trump, 73, made his claims at a White House press briefing.

Donald Trump revealed he is using the anti-malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine (Image: Pool/ABACA/ABACA/PA Images)

Nancy Pelosi slammed Trump (Image: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

He told reporters: "I'm taking it for about a week and a half now and I'm still here. You'd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front line workers - many, many are taking it."

Asked what was his evidence of the drug's benefits, Mr Trump said: "Here's my evidence: I get a lot of positive calls about it."

The US Food and Drug Administration has ruled it has "not been shown to be safe and effective".

Covid-19 has killed over 90,000 Americans but Mr Trump's doctors say he is free of symptoms.